"Accueil vélo" (Cyclist Welcome) is a marketing tool for positioning oneself in the cycling holiday market.

Accueil Vélo (Cyclists welcome) is a brand national supported by France Cycling TourismIt is awarded to socio-professionals wishing to attract and retain tourists on bicycles, due to their location along cycle tourism routes.

Granted following a pleasure visit, it guarantees travellers a chain of quality services, ranging from hospitality to the security of equipment and luggage.

As a leader in the French market for hosting cycling holidays, it now enjoys a European reputation.

France Vélo Tourisme is fully committed to promoting bicycle travel!

In consultation with local authorities and professionals, the France Vélo Tourisme association develops and promotes the cycling tourism sector in France, as illustrated by some of its flagship initiatives:

  • France Cycling Tourism

Why get certified Accueil Vélo?

Located near cycling routes, you already receive cyclists and wish to increase your visibility in order to expand this clientele? 

The Accueil Vélo certification is a marketing tool that can add value to your communication strategy.

It is now well-known to travelers. All members are listed on https://www.francevelotourisme.com/accueil-velo

More broadly, the cycle tourism sector benefits from the “snowball” effect of increased promotion by tourism institutions.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourism is fully committed to the subject through a dedicated action plan and its website www.laregionduvelo.fr 

At the Rhône level, the development of the sector by the Department and Rhône Tourisme translates into the creation and maintenance of marked trails, networking of professionals and promotion:

  • The Great Rhône Crossing by Mountain Bike, online on the France Vélo Tourisme website and the Grand Tour des Monts du Lyonnais.
  • The network of cycle touring loops. 
  • The presence, every year, of the Rhône Tourisme stand at the Lyon Hiking Show opposite the main entrance.
  • Thematic website www.rhone-outdoor.com
  • The Cafés Info Cyclo, an annual event open to all stakeholders in cycle tourism in the Rhône region, provides an opportunity to stay informed about cycling news and network with other professionals.
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What are the requirements for certification?

Membership is subject to a €200 fee, valid for 3 years. This fee includes the cost of the classification visit and the provision of the Accueil Vélo signage (PVC plaque, screws, and window decal). For each membership renewal, €50 is donated to France Vélo Tourisme.

The certification process is based on a simplified national framework since January 1, 2025.

Five categories of professionals are affected:

  • Hosts
  • Restaurateurs
  • Attractions
  • Bicycle repair shops
  • Bike rental companies
  • Tourist offices

The main ranking criteria are based primarily on:

  • The quality of the welcome, which notably includes the physical presence of the service provider in their establishment, their adherence to a label or a quality approach…
  • Proximity, within + or - 5 km, to a cycle touring route.
  • Providing cyclists with equipment and/or a secure place for bicycles and luggage at the time of the stages.
  • In the Rhône region, this concerns service providers located near La Grande Traversée du Rhône and Le grand tour des Monts du Lyonnais à VTT, the Rhône cycling loops, the ViaRhôna and the Voie Bleue, and the Voie Verte du Beaujolais.

How do I apply for or renew my certification in the Rhône?

Your contacts to assist you with the certification process are:

  • Rhône tourist offices
  • The Rhône branches of the Clévacances and Gîtes de France labels

Contact

  • Clévacances Ain – Rhône – Saône et Loire: Anne MARIN, Administrative and Sales Manager – Network Coordinator – anne.marin@clevacances-ain.com
  • Gîtes de France Rhône: Pascale Rey, Development Manager, Quality Control. p.rey@gites-de-france-rhone.com

You are  

An accommodation provider NOT certified by Clévacances or Gîtes de France?
Are you the manager of a facility offering an activity eligible for the Accueil Vélo (Cyclist Welcome) program?

Contact your tourist office 

You are  

Accommodation that is NOT certified by Clévacances or Gîtes de France,
Manager of a structure offering an activity eligible for Accueil Vélo in one of its three territories: Beaujolais Vert, Communauté de communes de l'Est Lyonnais or du Pays d'Ozon?

Contact 

  • Rhône Tourism: Corinne Brassart, Project Manager for Hiking and Culinary Tourism – corinne.brassart@rhone.fr

The figures, offers and studies you need to know

In the Rhône

23 members of Accueil Vélo

https://www.rhone-outdoor.com/fr/ the Rhône Tourism website dedicated to outdoor sports and leisure activities.

Mountain biking in the Rhône

Road cycling and touring in the Rhône:

In Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes

The Regional Tourism Agency Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourism promotes tourism in the region.

It publishes and compiles thematic economic studies and data made available to tourism stakeholders.

Cycling, a major outdoor activity in our regions, benefits from a wide range of actions to boost its development:

In France

The Bike and Walking Network

Unique in France, the association Cycling and Walking Network brings together communities committed to the development of soft mobility in France.

Resulting from the merger of Vélo & Territoires and the Club des villes et territoires cyclables et marcheables, it was created on January 1, 2025.

A leading authority in the field, it offers a wealth of resources on current events and the economic impact of cycling in all its forms.

Who are the cyclists*?

* Indicators of cycle tourism in France – Source: Economic impact and development potential of cycling in France in 2020.